The view is fine from up here
Have you ever been in a maze? When the kids were teenagers, we would go to the maze at Coconut Creek in Panama City. It is very difficult to tell which way to go. They would get turned around, go to dead ends and go in circles. They had lots of fun. I would not participate. The hot humid evenings were not conducive to running blindly through a maze. I sweat just thinking about it. No, I would sit comfortably in the observation platform. From there I could see which way to turn, which path was a dead end and which would lead you in circles. My advantage was that I was higher and could see the whole maze from my vantage point. We can see the same thing in today’s reading. When making decisions on which path to take, elevate your understanding with wisdom to get the whole picture. Look at the “cause and effect” of taking the right path or not.
Think of it this way
Wisdom
- Seeing life from Gods’ point of view
- Tracing our problems to violations of God’s principles
- The choices we make have an intricate cause and effect relationship
Understanding
- Gaining knowledge of God’s Holiness
- Responding to situations from God’s principles
- Avoiding the negative that cause a negative effect
As we look at a few of the verses, we see the direct cause and effect relationship. Each verse shows the positive and negative. Each of the positive of the verses takes place when we see life from God’s point of view, from a higher observation point. Each of the negative of the verses takes place when we see life from a worldly, low level view.
Today’s verses are from Proverbs 10
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.